Electronic shipment planner

Abstract

An electronic shipment planner is adapted for electronically presenting shipment and scheduling information to a user. The shipment and scheduling information includes at least one shipment event date. The shipment planner is linked to a shipment data repository containing shipment and scheduling information. A system interface communicates with the shipment data repository. An interactive shipment data link is electronically associated with the shipment and scheduling information, and cooperates with the system interface as commanded by the user to access and retrieve the associated shipment and scheduling information contained in the shipment data repository. A calendar display interface displays the shipment planner to the user in a calendar format, such that the interactive shipment data link is provided on the shipment event date associated with the shipment and scheduling information.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for electronically presenting shipment and scheduling information to a user, said system comprising:
 a web server for providing an electronic shipment planner to the user over an internet;   a client computer where the user can access said shipment planner;   wherein said shipment planner comprises:
 a calendar display interface for displaying said shipment planner to the user in a calendar format, said calendar format comprising a tabular register of days; 
 a plurality of shipment data links contained within certain days displayed in said calendar display interface, and electronically associated with the shipment and scheduling information, said plurality of shipment data links comprising: 
 (i) a plurality of first shipment event data links; 
 (ii) a plurality of second shipment event data links; and 
   
       wherein said first shipment event data links and said second shipment event data links contained within said tabular register of days of the calendar display interface are visually distinguished by a first data code and a second data code. 
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of shipment data links comprises a predetermined portion of the shipment and scheduling information. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of shipment data links comprises a shipment reference code. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said shipment reference code is selected from the group consisting of a bill of lading number and a purchase order number. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second data codes comprise color-coding to readily distinguish said first and second shipment event data links. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , and comprising a legend for indicating the color-code for said first and second shipment event data links. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , and comprising a display options data repository containing format parameters for customizing the format of said calendar display interface. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , and comprising a display options data interface communicating with said display options data repository for setting desired format parameters contained in said display options data repository. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , and comprising an input device for selecting said interactive shipment data link from said calendar display interface. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said input device comprises a computer mouse. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , and comprising a report data repository containing profile parameters for displaying the shipment and scheduling information in a customized user report. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , and comprising a report data interface communicating with said report data repository for setting desired profile parameters contained in said report data repository. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , and comprising a personal event data repository containing personal event information of the user, the personal event information being associated with a personal event date. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , and comprising a personal event data interface communicating with said personal event data repository for loading personal event information into said personal event data repository. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , and comprising a personal event data link electronically associated with the personal event information contained in a personal event data repository. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein said personal event data link comprises a predetermined portion of the personal event information. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of first shipment event data links is associated with shipment event data comprising one of a group consisting of inbound freight, outbound freight, and third party freight. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of second shipment event data links is associated with shipment event data comprising one of a group consisting of inbound freight, outbound freight, and third party freight.